inclination

Noun

inclination (countable and uncountable, plural inclinations)

1. A physical tilt or bend.
   • The inclination of his head increased and he awoke with a start.
2. A slant or slope.
   • The road up to the house had a steep inclination.
   • The gradients on the western part of the line are generally easy, although there is a rise at 1 in 55 before Manorbier, and a fall at the same inclination beyond that station.1959 October, H. A. Vallance, “The Pembroke & Tenby Railway”, in Railway Magazine, page 668

   Synonyms:

   incline, inclining, steepness

3. A tendency.
   • His inclination to drink escalated to alcoholism.
   • It should be remembered, however, that [Sir Thomas] Lawrence, who was now in demand, was charging from eighty to a hundred guineas for even his smallest portraits, a sum which would have been far beyond the pocket or inclination of the canny North countryman [George Stephenson], who had little use...1960 February, H. C. P. Smail, “New portrait of George Stephenson”, in Railway Magazine, page 93

   Synonyms:

   leaning, proclivity, propensity

4. The angle of intersection of a reference plane.
   • The astronomer calculated the inclination of the equator or ecliptic of Earth and the orbital planes of each visible heavenly body.
   • Artillery must take account of a weapon's precise inclination.
5. (obsolete) A person or thing loved or admired.
   • you make will be a Discovery of your Inclinationsc. 1672-1679, William Temple, Memoirs
   • Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.c. 1771, John Adams, speaking in a trial